Published: 17 May 2025

The Government of Zimbabwe has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe (ICZ) to enhance insurance protection for public service vehicle passengers and implement the COMESA Regional Third-Party Motor Vehicle Insurance scheme.

The landmark agreement, signed on May 16, 2025, aims to bolster road safety and ensure that all public transport passengers are adequately covered in the event of accidents. It also includes key provisions for data sharing and analysis to help identify gaps in coverage and areas for improvement within the transport and insurance sectors.

The MoU was formalised by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and the ICZ, with Permanent Secretary Engineer Joy Makumbe representing the ministry and ICZ board chairperson Mr David Nyabadza signing on behalf of the insurance industry.

In her remarks at the signing ceremony, Eng Makumbe emphasized the importance of the agreement in promoting public safety and ensuring compliance with regional insurance standards.

"The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and the insurance industry represented by the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on May 16, 2025, to establish a collaborative framework for the issuance of minimum insurance cover for public service vehicle passengers and COMESA Regional Third-Party Motor Vehicle Insurance," she said.

Makumbe added that the agreement "marks a significant step towards enhancing road safety by providing robust protection for the commuting public and promoting the strict enforcement of the requirement for minimum insurance cover for public service vehicle passengers."

The COMESA Yellow Card insurance scheme, which facilitates seamless cross-border travel within member states, is expected to receive a boost through this MoU, as Zimbabwe aligns itself more closely with regional safety and insurance frameworks.

Authorities say the initiative is part of a broader push to reduce fatalities and injuries on the country's roads by strengthening both the regulatory and protective mechanisms in the transport sector.
- zimpapers

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